Happy Birthday My Dear Friend!

Today, Emin turns 31. But he wont have a birthday celebration with his friends and family. Instead, he will be celebrating his new age behind bars at a prison facility in Azerbaijan. On November 11th its going to be a year since Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada were officially sentenced to imprisonment on faked charges of hooliganism.

Since then much has been voiced with regard to their personalities, activities, lives. There were those who supported their imprisonment, saying they deserved the sentence. Others raised their concerns. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, who says what, how, and when. What remains to be important is that both Emin and Adnan were individuals just like any of us. Who had their own beliefs, ideas, values and passion for things, some will never understand. They wanted to make a difference, something many people won't dare of doing because of the fear of being different from the rest. 

They are men of courage and truth. And that is a fact and will remain so for many of their friends and supporters. Unlike many other "official" hooligans, thieves, criminals, they didn't buy their way out. They chose to be fare and just but no one cared about that because there is one thing that judicial or any other power in Azerbaijan cares about and its money. And the more, the better. So while Vusal and Babek (the alleged victims of the attack Emin and Adnan were framed under) got out because they were paid to do so, our friends were arrested.

And that is the truth about Azerbaijan- there is no decency left. And it doesn't matter how many billions of dollars one spends to make the country look pretty, because no money will hide the ugly reality and truth the country lives in. Its a one big lie covered with fake truth!

Happy Birthday my dear friend! I want to wish you many happy returns but in freedom and in a country hopefully that will change one day...

Political prisoners in Azerbaijan- Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada- Radio Netherlands Worldwide 

Support video prepared by friends of Adnan and Emin

Sigh...

Before writing this post, I was thinking that my first blog entry after a long break will be on something fun and positive. I was thinking of writing about a recent skate boarding competition I watched in Istanbul, or maybe few words on my honeymoon spent in Barcelona, or even something about summer in Istanbul... Basically something light. But in the light of today's events, I will postpone the fun posts and get right to business.

Today, as Reporters Without Borders report, "a court in the Baku district of Garadag refused to grant [Adnan] Hajizada the early conditional release for which he qualified after completing half of his 24- month sentence" (Adnan was sentenced to two years and Emin to two years and six months based on false allegations in the summer of last year for those who don't know). 

The release was opposed by no other than successful businessman (who lost his brains in a very dark dark place) a.k.a. prison director himself Ali Nabiyev and his lovely puppy deputy (whose name shall not be named (taken from the Harry Potter movie)). 

The reason so nicely worded by someone who probably does or doesn't (who cares after all) have brains reads" [Adnan's release was opposed] on the grounds that he [Adnan] was conflictive, did not do enough prison work and met with his lawyer too often". I would like to get your attention on the last reason: "met with his lawyer too often" (which by no means, means that I am dismissing other reasons stated, not at all its just absurdity of the last one got my attention) and tell me who sets boundaries and rules as to how many times "prisoners" can meet their lawyers?! Oh I know, maybe because our dearest Mr. Nabiyev was expecting significant bride to top up his valuables stack underneath his bed but when he learned that he wont get any penny he decided to get his own revenge?! Or he has been already served and is simply doing his noble, truly devoted job?! 

Who knows.... The fact remains the fact... Adnan and Emin are still in prison, Azerbaijani authorities don't give a damn thing about human rights let alone freedom of speech and guess what?! All the international organizations please stand up and bow because no one cares about what they say either! Here is Azerbaijan! ("Bura Azerbaycandir!" taken from OL's sequence of videos).